Big Man tells the fascinating story of Clarence Clemons, the larger-than-life saxophone player of the E Street Band. Clarence and his longtime friend, writer/producer Don Reo, take you on a thrilling ride from Clarence's childhood to the present, from beat-up vans to private jets, from boardwalk bars to stadiums and concert halls all over the world. It's a fitting account of a life lived to the full by a man who threw himself wholeheartedly into his music right up until his tragic death in 2011. The book is filled with never-before-told stories about Clarence's life, his friendship with Bruce Springsteen, and his encounters with some of the most famous people in the world. Along the way, Clarence and Don spin their own fictional "legends" that add to the already-mystical lore of E Street. An absolute must for all Springsteen fans, Big Man reveals the heart and soul of the man who brought so much music and love to so many people for so long.

The Rising is the 12th studio album by Bruce Springsteen, released in 2002. In addition to being Springsteen's first studio album in seven years, it was also his first with the E Street Band in 18 years. It is centered around Springsteen's reflections on the September 11, 2001 attacks. Upon its release, The Rising was a critical and commercial success, and hailed as the triumphant return of "The Boss". It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of over 520,000 copies.